Device for checking the tendency of train-pipes to shift longitudinally.



A. R. AYERS.

DEVECE POP? CHECKING THE TENDENCY 0F TRAIN PIPES T0 SHIFT LONGITUDINALLIY,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, l9l3.

1 %1 1&3390 Patmtefl Jam 2, 191?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. R. AYERS. DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE TENDENCY 0F TRAIN PIPES T0 SHIFT LONGITUDIIIIALLY.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. I9I3.

PatentIadI Jan 2, 1917 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 w w MW AUGUSTINE RIDENOUB AYERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. TO WALTER P.

i MURPHY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE TENDENCY OF TRAIN-PIPES T SHIFT LONGITUDINALLY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patnted Jan. 2, rear.

Application filed March 20, 1913. Serial No. 755,612.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTINE R. AYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Checking the Tendency of Train-Pipes to Sh1ft Longitudinally, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the train pipes forming part of the air brake or heatlng systems of railway cars, and the pr1nc1pal object of the invention is to provide an effective and inexpensive means for preventing said train pipes from shifting longitiidinally.

The invention has reference, more particularly, to air train pipes, for reasons which will be apparent from the following description of the invention, but the improvements constituting the invention might be used, under certain circumstances, in connection with the steam line,

The air train pipe of a railway car is ordinarily suspended under the flooring of the car by means of the hangers which take a frictional grip upon the pipe. The reservoir in which is stored compressed air for operating the air brakes, for example, is connected with the train pipe by means of a branch pipe. If the train pipe shifts longitudinally in its hangers the branch pipe is likely to be fractured or its connections with the main pipe or the reservoir'are likely to be broken or otherwise disturbed. The train pipe has a tendency to shift longitudinally for several reasons. In the first place, when the train starts and stops, and particularly when it makes a short stop, the inertia of the pipe will tend to shift it. In the second place, the train pipe may be pulled through the hangers one way or another when the car is uncoupled from the train. The train pipe couplers now ordinarily used are of the gravity type which open automatically when the coupling hose are tautened. This feature of the coupling, which was originally intended merely to prevent the rupture of the hose in case the trainmen forgot to uncouple the train pipe connections when breaking up the train, has led trainmen to save time and trouble by discontinuing the practice of uncoupling the train pipe couplers. Very frequently they simply uncouple the car couplings leaving the train line couplings to open automath cally. This, of course, puts a considerable stresson the train pipes, tending to shift the same in the hangers. Similar stresses are exerted when thetrain rounds sharp or reverse curves and this is particularly the case when stiff, heavy hose, which are rapidly becoming common, are employed.

My invention provides a very simple and inexpensive device for preventing the train pipe from shifting under these or other similar conditions. A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this sort which may also serve as a support or hanger for the pipe.

The invention has for further objects such other novel and improved devices, arrangements and constructions relating to train pipes as are shown in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated, in certain preferred embodiments, in the accompanymg drawings, wherein- Figure 1 1s a plan view of a portion of the under frame and piping of a railway car illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2, a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3, a view, in perspective, of the bracket forming a part of the train pipe supporting device shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail sectional views taken on lines 44, 5--5 and 86, respectively, of Fig. 1, and Figs. 7 and 8, a side and end elevation, respectively, of a modified construction.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the drawin s.

eferring first to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, designates the longitudinal sills of the car, 26 one of the end sills and 27 the cross ties. The train pipe, as usual, is made up of a number of sections of pipe. In the arrangement'shown in the drawings, the ends of the train pipe sections 28, 29, are secured in the opposite ends of a coupling element 30 which connects the branch pipe 31 with the train pipe, the branch pipe 31 leading to the air reservoir 32. The coupling element 30 is ordinarily provided with a strainer 33. Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, 34 designates a bracket secured to one of the tions 28, 29. The arms 36 are spaced apart so that the coupling element 30 may fit in between them. Preferably straps or plates 37 are employed which extend over the pipe Sections 28, 29 close to the coupling element and are secured to the arms 36 by the bolts '38. It will be seen that this arrangement provides abutments for the opposite ends of the coupling member 30, which abutments absolutely prevent any longitudinal movement of the train pipe. The device also serves the purpose of a hanger or support for the pipe. It is obvious that if necessary devices of similar character might be used at other points along the train pipe so as to minimize the breakage of the pipes at the point 'of coupling. At the right hand side of Figs. 1 and 2 and in Fig. 6 I have shown a device of this character used as a hanger for the extremity of the train pipe. The train pipe section 39 is connected by a coupling 40 with a short pipe section 41 which forms a part of or is suitably connected with the angle cook 42. The bracket 43, which is bolted to one of the sills 25, is provided with projecting arms 44 which support the pipe sections'39, 41 and lie close against the opposite ends of the coupling 40. The angle cock preferably abuts the outer one of the two arms 44. The advantage of this arrangement of the angle cock is that it minimizes the danger of having the end of the train pipe and the angle cock. broken off by the diagonal strains exerted on the pipe through the angle cock and its hose.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a modified construction. 45 designates a bracket secured to the sill 46, and 47 forked elements secured to the bracket by the bolts 48. Each fork extends over one of.the pipe sections 49 or 50 and stands close up against the coupling element 51 which connects said sections together. I i

While I preferably arrange the device of my invention so as to take advantage of the projections or shoulders provided by one of the coupling elements commonly used for connecting together the pipe sections making up the train pipe, it will be obvious that, for preventing the shifting movement of the pipes, the device might be usedwith train-55 pipes diiferently constituted so long as shoulders or projections are provided. capable of being engaged so as to hold the train pipe from longitudinal movement against.

the stresses to which the pipe is subjected under service conditions. It will also be obvious that the form and construction of my device might be modified Without departure from my invention.

I claim: 7

1. In a device for supporting and preventing the longitudinal shift, in either direction, of a horizontally arranged train pipe, the combination with a plurality of alined pipe sections, of a coupling member having an external diameter greater than that of the said train pipe interposed between said pipe sections and engaging the extremities thereof, means for rigidly seem.

ing said pipe sections to a car comprising aforked member adapted to be secured to the underframe of the car, the forked porextremities thereof, means for rigidly so curin said pipe sections to a car comprising a'for ed member adapted to be secured to the underframe of the car, the forked portions of said forked member extending under said pipe sections near their extremities and abutting against the opposite ends of said coupling member, and clamping mem bers fitted over said pipe sections and secured to said forked member.

AUGUSTINE RIDENOUR AYERS.

Witnesses:

R. M. SWA'RTZ, E. C. HARDY. 

